Dr. Jason Smick, a lecturer in Philosophy of Religion at Santa Clara University, will discuss how religious fundamentalism is now a global phenomenon. Such movements have emerged in every major world religion. They are the most visible and troubling site of religious reflection and action in the contemporary world. Fundamentalisms seek to effect real and far-reaching changes in democratic societies. Most problematically, they arguably want to undermine the secular, democratic, intellectual, social, and political contexts established in the modern era. He highlights what he maintains are the common motivations and characteristics of fundamentalist forms of religion. He concludes by urging secular persons and communities to reach out to the religions, or at least, to those religious sub-traditions that see democracy as the form of intellectual, social, and political life consistent with their worldviews and cultural aspirations in order to counteract the threat to democratic ideals and ways of life that fundamentalisms pose.